What do we do to resolve anomalous line-work? Perhaps we find an overlap or a gap exists between existing line-work and the new parcel, or maybe a given legal description shows that one leg of a parcel adjoins a highway right-of-way for which a readily available description does not exist. One method for resolving this is to obtain a copy of the county property assessment map from the DOR. If existing records don’t resolve the anomaly, an estimated resolution is employed. This method is not ideal, but experience and an informed idea of what the city intends, helps to minimize error (Educated guesswork).
If an obvious overlap occurs with a new annexation and the existing city limits, we assume (guess) that the overlapped area is intended to be included in the revised boundary. It doesn't matter that it overlaps, the intent of the city is to include it. If a sliver or gap between parcels becomes apparent to us, we call the city planning dept. and ask for a clarification. Many of these anomalies occur by mistake, and aren't supposed to exist. We ask for what the city intends. We have found that these types of problems occur more often in communities that have limited resources. The number of occurances varies from year to year, but a figure of 5% is probably close to the average.
For clarity, unless the boundary follows the centerline of a street or highway, an offset is employed to an estimated right of way. This offset averages 10 feet, and merely indicates that the line follows a right of way. Rights of way are seldom an even number of feet. Exceptions to the 10’ offset placement will occur when the placed line is between two converging or parallel highways or roads. and it seems reasonable to split the difference which may be less than or more than 10’. Another exception may occur when the line parallels a feature that has many vertices and it’s reasonable to use fewer to place the boundary.
As annexations are entered, we print out scale plots of newly annexed areas and transfer that information onto our counter maps. Printed records of the annexations are placed in Current City Map Corrections file drawers.
Unfortunately, not all cities have consistently complied with O.R.S.198.70. Traditionally, the only annexations available to ODOT are those that have been received by the Sec. Of State’s office. Currently, information from the DOR can be cross-referenced with information from the Secretary of State’s Office to solve discrepancies.
Our maps are a graphic representation of the sum of information available to us. Our maps are not an exact replica of the real world due to the amount of information collected, the number of places it was collected from, and due to the fact that no map (digital or hand drawn) paints a perfect picture. As a matter of record, maps are not legal documents. Text (survey) descriptions of a property is the legal definition of a property.